Republican congressional leaders are to be commended for tackling key
issues of concern among minority communities, says Project 21, an African-American
leadership network. Project 21 members contend that initiatives made during
the 105th Congress constitute one of the greatest leaps forward for minorities
in the past 30 years.

Project 21 member Kimberley Wilson says, "After three decades of
black political efforts to coddle the residents of the inner city with worthless
social programs and a celebration of victimhood, the Republican-led 105th
Congress has actually taken concrete measures to encourage self-sufficiency
in minority communities."

Project 21 singled out work on the following issues for special praise:

* Needle Exchange: H.R. 3717 prohibits the federal government from subsidizing
the distribution of hypodermic needles or syringes for the injection of
illegal drugs. It repeals a provision of the FY 1998 Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act that allows the federal
government to fund needle exchange programs after March 31, 1998.

* School Choice: The District of Columbia Student Scholarship Act would
provide 2,000 Washington, D.C. students with tuition supplements that could
be used for public or private schools.

* The Renewal Alliance for America's Urban Families & Communities:
This bill would restore authority and resources to religious, non-profit,
and volunteer groups seeking to reweave the social fabric of inner-city
neighborhoods. It targets tax and regulatory relief and savings incentives
to restore the shattered economies of inner-city neighborhoods.

* Fathers Count: This Republican initiative to help low-income fathers,
encourage marriage and better parenting is the next step in welfare reform.

* Census: A commitment to a Census that counts everyone. The leadership
also stands ready to ban sampling for apportionment purposes on the grounds
that it is unproven.

* The HIV Prevention Act of 1997 will reduce the rate of HIV infections
among all Americans by focusing on public health and prevention.

Kevin Pritchett, a policy analyst and member of Project 21's advisory
council, adds: "After years of liberal neglect and bad policies, conservatives
in Washington and around the nation have stepped up to the plate and taken
on the hard issues important to minority communities: crime, school choice,
harmful regulation, saving community-based organizations and promoting resonpsible
fatherhood. These policies are not just good for minority communities, but
for Americans of all races. Conservatives have a positive, color-blind agenda,
not just the same old spendthrift, race- and quota-based remedies that many
have posited in the past and still push today."

Project 21 member Renee Stikes, special projects director of the Small
Busines Survival Committee concludes "Republicans in Congress have
done more to address the problems facing the African-American community
than our so-called leaders. While members of the Congressional Black Caucus
were off shadowing President Clinton in Africa, Republican leaders enhanced
community-building legislation like the American Renewal Project. They understand
that problems facing the inner-cities will never be solved until the community-based
organizations that are 'in the trenches' are given the assistance necessary
to build values in our communities. Fortunately, the constituents of the
Congressional Black Caucus were well served by Republican leaders who chose
to take care of business back home instead of investing in symbolism."

Project 21 has been a leading voice of the African American community
since 1992. For more information, contact Roderick Conrad at 202-543-4110
or [email protected].